Multi-lumen high profile mammary implant

Abstract

A surgically implantable, multi-lumen, high profile mammary implant includes a first, flexible, lumen at least partly and filled with a soft gel material and having a front wall approximating the shape of a human breast and a second, firmer flexible lumen elastic within the first lumen and connected thereto solely at the rear wall of the first lumen. The second lumen has a volume which is less than the volume of the first lumen and at least partly filled with a second soft gel material. A third lumen preferably inflatably surrounds the first lumen and is inflated with saline solution. The second lumen is made firmer than any other lumen of the implant by providing it with a greater percent fill than any other lumen of the multi-lumen implant, filling it with a material which has a greater density than any materials filling any other lumen of the implant, providing it with thicker walls than any other lumen, or by filling it with material which has a greater crosslink density than the materials filling any of the other lumens. The multi-lumen, structure has a high profile implant which is most suitable for breast reconstruction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-lumen mammary implant which is soft, will maintain its desired shape after implantation and has high projection, said implant comprising first and second lumens, said second lumen being contained within said first lumen, wherein the first lumen has a front wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human breast and a rear wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human chest wall, the second lumen has walls including a rear wall and is connected to the first lumen at the rear wall of each lumen, the first lumen contains the second lumen and, between the first and second lumens, a first soft gel, the second lumen contains a second soft gel, the second soft gel having a higher density than the first soft gel, thereby rendering the second gel-containing lumen as a whole more firm than the gel-containing first lumen. 
     
     
       2. A multi-lumen mammary implant which is soft, will maintain its desired shape after implantation and has high projection, said implant comprising first and second lumens, said second lumen being contained within said first lumen, wherein the first lumen has a front wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human breast and a rear wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human chest wall, the second lumen has walls including a rear wall and is connected to the first lumen at the rear wall of each lumen, the first lumen contains the second lumen and, between the first and second lumens, a first soft gel, the second lumen contains a second soft gel, the second soft gel having a greater crosslink density than the first soft gel, thereby rendering the second gel-containing lumen as a whole more firm than the gel-containing first lumen. 
     
     
       3. The implant of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the implant includes a inflatable third lumen having a flexible front wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human breast, a rear wall with an outer shape for approximating the shape of the human chest wall, and containing the first lumen, wherein the third lumen comprises valve means permitting inflation and deflation of space between the first and third lumens and, in the space between the first and third lumens, contains a liquid compatible with the human body. 
     
     
       4. The implant of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the second lumen has a greater percent of fill or gel than the first lumen. 
     
     
       5. The implant of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the second lumen has firmer walls than the first lumen.